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by rahimnathwani 4291 days ago
> That is not a gift.

Yes, it is a gift. The loan was priced way below market, considering the level of risk and other conditions attached. The difference between the interest rate Tesla paid, and the market interest rate for the same amount of money, is a subsidy (or 'gift', if you prefer) from the taxpayer to Tesla.

http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2013/05/tesl...
1 comments
toomuchtodo 4291 days ago
A subsidy is not a gift. It is an incentive to take a specific action, no different than the mortgage income tax deduction, credit on your taxes for children, or deductions for charitable contributions.

If you have any thought that the US is an efficient pure free market, I am sorry to inform you that is not the case.

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rahimnathwani 4291 days ago
Let me be more clear. You said:

'can you point out taxpayer money they were "given"'

My point is that the subsidised interest rate _is_ taxpayer money they were given. They were given the difference between the market interest and the interest they actually paid.

I'm _not_ arguing either that (i) 'the US is an efficient pure market' or (ii) that this specific subsidy was a good or bad thing.

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